Kennedy’s final hurdle to British title to be held in Wales at start of 2016

Unbeaten Craig Kennedy (12-0, 6KO) will face his final hurdle to a British title shot in Wales, BoxingWales.com can reveal.

The 30-year-old cruiserweight is set to tackle London’s former Commonwealth champion Tony Conquest (15-2, 5KO) in a British title final eliminator in early 2016. Yesterday, purse bids were opened at the British Boxing Board of Control’s [BBBoC] headquarters in Cardiff and Sanigar Events, who promote Kennedy, won with the largest offer.

Kennedy, an unbeaten cruiserweight who turned professional in 2013, will have home advantage and the bout is expected to be held at the Newport Centre, where the Cardiff cruiserweight has won six outings, three by knockout.

Jamaican born Ovill McKenzie currently holds the British title but the heavy-hitter hasn’t defended the Lord Lonsdale strap since out-pointing Matty Askin in March. McKenzie has since challenged Victor Emilio Ramirez for the IBF world title, fighting to a Split Decision draw on just nine days notice and the governing body has so far refused to order an immediate rematch.

First though, Kennedy must overcome Hungary’s Tamas Bajzath (11-16-1, 5KO) in an eight round contest at the City Academy Sports Centre in Bristol on Saturday. It was quickly rearranged when Africa’s Benki Mwakalebela (13-1, 10KO) failed a BBBoC medical and was forced to withdraw from his meeting with Kennedy two weeks ago.

This weekend’s show, which is a joint promotion between Hennessy Sports and Sanigar Events, will be broadcast on Channel 5 and Spike TV. Cardiff-based British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell (18-3-1, 8KO) and Barry Town’s ex-Olympian Andrew Selby (1-0, 1KO) also feature.